Full Title: 2014 Renewable Energy Data Book
Author(s): U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Publisher(s): U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Key Findings:
- The United States’ overall energy consumption grew to 98.3 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2014, a 1% increase from 2013. Energy consumption from renewables (+3.1%), natural gas (+2.6%), nuclear (+1%), and petroleum (+0.5%) increased compared to 2013, while consumption from coal declined by 0.8%.
- The United States’ electric power sector energy consumption grew to 38.6 quadrillion Btu in 2014, a 0.5% increase from 2013.
- In 2014, U.S. renewable electricity2 grew to 15.5% of total installed capacity and 13.5% of total electricity generation. Installed renewable electricity capacity exceeded 179 gigawatts (GW) in 2014, generating 554 terawatt-hours (TWh).
- In 2014, U.S. hydropower produced nearly half of total renewable electricity generation, wind produced 33%, biomass produced 12%, solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) produced 6%, and geothermal produced 3%.
- In 2014, renewable electricity accounted for more than 50% of U.S. electricity capacity additions.
- In 2014, solar electricity installed capacity increased by more than 54% (5.5 GW), accounting for more than 48% of U.S. renewable electricity capacity installed in 2014.
- U.S. wind electricity generation increased by 8.3% in 2014. Wind electricity capacity grew by 7.8% (4.8 GW).
- U.S. electricity capacities of biomass, geothermal, and hydropower have remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2014.
- Installed global renewable electricity capacity continued to increase and represents 28.5% of total electricity capacity globally in 2014.1
- Worldwide, solar PV and CSP are among the fastest growing renewable electricity technologies—in 2014 alone, combined capacity increased by more than 28% globally.
- In 2014, the United States led the world in biodiesel production, followed by Germany, Brazil, Argentina, France, and Indonesia.
- Globally, new investments in renewables in 2014 grew by 16% from 2013 to $310 billion.